After decades of making audiences laugh, Ellen DeGeneres has announced that she is stepping away from stand-up comedy.
While performing in Santa Rosa, California, during her tour “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up,” the 66-year-old comedian told the crowd this would be her final run on stage. When an audience member asked whether fans might see her return to Broadway or film in the future, she responded candidly: after her upcoming Netflix special airs at the end of 2024, she plans to be done.
The announcement marks the end of a long and influential chapter in entertainment. From her early stand-up beginnings to her groundbreaking sitcom and the massive success of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Ellen built a career centered on humor, relatability, and positivity. For years, she was a daily presence in millions of homes, known for dancing onto stage, surprising guests, and encouraging kindness.
Reports have also surfaced that several upcoming dates on her tour — including shows in Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago — were canceled. While no detailed public explanation has been given regarding those cancellations, Ellen used her stage time to thank fans for standing by her. In her signature self-deprecating style, she joked about what life has been like since leaving daytime television, quipping, “Let me catch you up on what’s been going on with me… I got chickens.”
Addressing past controversies surrounding workplace culture allegations tied to her former talk show, Ellen leaned into humor. “Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean,” she said, before adding that perhaps she’d eventually be “kicked out for being old.” Still, she firmly rejected the label, telling the audience, “I am many things, but I am not mean.” She also reflected honestly on how public perception can shift over time, admitting that earlier in her career she claimed not to care what people said — something she now sees differently in hindsight.
Regardless of how her final chapter unfolds, Ellen DeGeneres leaves behind a significant legacy in comedy and television. She broke barriers, brought LGBTQ+ visibility to mainstream entertainment, and delivered decades of laughter. As her final special approaches, fans have one more opportunity to celebrate the humor and cultural impact of a comedian who helped shape modern daytime television — and who, for many, remains an unforgettable part of their lives.